Missing characters and Portrait!DD (was: Why I am 98.6% certain that...)

[cubfanbudwoman]

No: HPFGUIDX 132973

Caesar:
> I must confess I was somewhat disappointed in McGonagall, Lupin 
> and the rest (Mad Eye was supposed to be a very capable Auror, so 
> where was he during the HBP??). 

SSSusan:
I missed Minerva & Lupin terribly!  I understand JKR gave us a 
rationale for Lupin's absence, but I really had wanted him to play a 
major role for Harry. Granted, **DD** ended up playing that role for 
Harry, and that was great, but still....  And I missed Minerva's 
presence as we got it in OoP.  She was strong and fiesty and sharp-
witted in OoP, and I wanted more of the same.

And, as you say, WHERE the heck was Mad-Eye??


Caesar:
> One final question. I noticed how careful JKR was to underline the 
> fact that DD's portrait was slumbering during the staff's talk 
> Don't you aggree that some talk between Harry and the portrait 
> will be a requirement for the first chapter of Book 7?

SSSusan:
I think, whether in the first chapter or not, there will have to 
be.  *IF* Harry does not talk to portrait!DD, how is he going to 
figure out that Snape killed DD on DD's **orders** [if, in fact, I'm 
right about that ;-)]?  And if Harry DOESN'T hear that from DD, I 
can't imagine he would ever discover that information on his own nor 
believe it if anyone else (least of all Snape himself!) tried to 
explain it to him.

I mean, does anyone doubt at this moment, that the next time Harry 
encounters Snape, he isn't going to try to curse him, perhaps even 
take him out?  I can't imagine him LISTENING to Snape... nor, 
really, Snape even trying very hard to explain to Harry, given their 
history, and given how Snape reacted to Harry at the end with 
that "DON'T CALL ME A COWARD!" thing.

No, if Harry's going to figure out Snape's still "okay," (as okay as 
a major prick can be, that is), then I think it's going to have to 
come from a talk w/ portrait!DD.

Siriusly Snapey Susan